Furniture-carrying device

ABSTRACT

A product-carrying device composed of a pair of L-shaped parallel members having upright leg portions and horizontal leg portions and detachably but rigidly interconnected by a singular cross member connected to the vertical leg portions and serving as a manual grip for carrying the device.

United States Patent [191 Docherty et a1.

[ Sept. 25, 1973 Filed:

FURNITURE-CARRYING DEVICE Inventors: Donald B. Docherty, Rt. N0. 1,

Reynolds, 11]. 61279; Paul L. Danner, Box 36, Illinois City, 111. 61259 May 14, 1971 Appl. No.: 143,404

U.S. Cl...., 280/34 B, 16/30, 16/111 R, 214/390, 280/4724, 280/4727, 294/15 Int. Cl. B65g 7/12, B62b l/20 Field of Search 280/34 B, 35, 47.17, 280/472, 47.24, 47.27; 294/15, 26; 214/390; 16/29, 30, 111 R, 114 R; 182/228 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1942 Chenette ..294/15 4/1946 Whitney ..294/15 828,049 8/1906 488,357 12/1892 600,452 3/1898 1,374,372 4/1921 1,836,576 12/1931 2,367,627 l/1945 2,739,007 3/1956 2,961,694 ll/196O May H 16/111 R Primary Examiner-Benjamin Hersh Assistant ExaminerLes1ie J. Paperner Attorney-William A. Murray [57] ABSTRACT A product-carrying device composed of a pair of L- shaped parallel members having upright leg portions and horizontal leg portions and d-etachably but rigidly interconnected by a singular cross member connected to the vertical leg portions and serving as a manual grip for carrying the device.

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDsmsma 3,761,107

z, I INVENTORS la "fl l8 DONALD B. DOCHERTY PAUL L. DANNER FIG. 4 9H4 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It has heretofore been known to provide a singular furniture-or product-carrying device that has a portion engaging the vertical side of the product to be carried and a portion that underlies the product to be carried. For example, U. S. Pat. No. 2 I 8,865 shows a device utilizing such features. Also, it has heretofore been known to provide furniture-carrying devices that utilize wheels so that once the device is placed under the furniture, the weight of the furniture can be supported on the wheels.

When carrying bulky furniture such as television sets, washing machines, dryers, pianos and other types of bulky furniture, the problem is not so much the weight of the product as much as the ability to grip the product easily and particularly when picking up the product. Thus, when carrying a large television set by two men, the problem is not the weight of the set as much as the ability to grip the set for carrying.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION With the above in mind, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a productor furniturecarrying device that is a single rigid device composed of a pair of L-shaped members having a vertical leg portion that bears against the vertical side of the product and a lower horizontally extending leg portion that bears against the under side of the product. The two L- shaped members are rigidly joined by a singular cross member that is supported on the vertical leg portions in rearward spaced relation from the facing side of the members so that the cross member may be gripped and carried.

More specifically, it is the object of the present invention to provide the cross member of the abovedescribed type that is detachably but rigidly connected to the pair of L-shaped members. Thus, the two L- shaped members may be spaced apart at desired distances by using different lengths of cross members. For example, it may be desirable to have a comparatively narrow device for carrying the ends of a piano as compared to that desired to carry washing machines. Consequently, in one form of the invention, it is necessary only to interchange longer or shorter cross members in accordance with the spacing desired to be had between the L-shaped members. In a second form of the invention, the cross member or handle has a series of openings through which bolts extend and connect to the L- shaped members. In this way, a single cross member may be utilized to provide a device having various spacings between the L-shaped members merely by adjusting the effective length of the cross piece between the members.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide with the above carrying device a pair of detachable wheel assemblies- Each wheel assembly is composed of a base member that lies adjacent the underside of the horizontal leg portions of the L-shaped member and has a pair of bail members rigid with the plate and that overlie the horizontal leg portions, with one of the bail members lying closely adjacent the vertical leg portions and having brackets or ears extending to the rear side of the vertical portions. A detachable element or bolt extends between the ears and when inserted and attached thereto holds the base plate on the horizontal portion. The base plate carries a depending swivel-type or castor-type wheel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view through the lower portion of the L-shaped member and with the wheel attachment mounted thereon.

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the device showing a modified form thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The fumitureor product-carrying device is composed of a pair of upright rigid L-shaped members 10, 11 disposed parallel to one another and having upright portions 12, 13 and generally horizontal portions 14, 15 that project forwardly from the lower ends of the vertical portions I2, 13. The vertical portions l2, 13 are U-shaped channels providing forward flanges or coplanar portions 16, 17 bearing against a vertical side of the fumiture or product to be carried. The portions 14, 15 have upper surfaces that are coplanar to one another but which are at a slight acute angle a to the portions 16, 17. In the preferred form, the acute angle a is substantially 85 although a slightly lesser or greater angle will operate to substantially some advantage. A preferred range is between and 89. The acute angle is desired so that the weight of the product to be carried will be utilized to draw the vertical side of the product against the vertical portions l2, l3 and to operate to retain the engagement between the portions and the vertical side of the product.

The height of the vertical portions 12, 13 is 16 inches and again a range of 12-20 inches would be desirable in order that the device be light enough and yet manually controllable enough for a single person operating from a side of a rather heavy product to be carried. The horizontal portions 14, 15, besides having the acute angle a, also are tapered from a relatively thick heel portion to a relatively narrow forward or front tip portion. By so tapering the portions l4, 15, they may easily be inserted under a low-lying piece of furniture. 7 Bonded to the horizontal portions '14, 15 on all sides thereof and to the front faces and sides of the vertical portions 12, 13 is a layer of elastomer material 18. The layer 18 serves the purpose of preventing scratching or damaging of the product that is being carried as well as a frictional surface which aids in retaining the product on the device.

A pair of rigid brackets 19, 20 are welded to the rear surfaces of the vertical flanges 17, 18 and extend rearwardly therefrom. The cars or brackets 19, 20 have U shaped recesses or notches 21, 22 cut out of their rear ends. A cross piece or handle 23 extends between and connects to the brackets 19, 20. The handle 23 has U- shaped ends 24, 25 that seat in the recessed notches 21, 22. A tapped opening is provided in each of the brackets 19, 20 that receives bolts 26 that extend through the i to 6 inches from the top of the upright portions.

Wheel attachments 30 are each composed of a base or plate 31 that underlies the respective horizontal portions 14, 15. Fixed to the plate 31 is a castor 32 that carries the wheel 33. Rigid with the plate is a first or tip bail 34 that extends over the tip of the horizontal portion 14 or and a second bail 35 that fits over the portions 14, 15 adjacent the heel end or closely adjacent the respective vertical portions 12 or 13. The bail 35 has a portion that fits against both the horizontal portion 14 or 15 and the vertical portion 12 or 13. The bail 35 also has a pair of rearwardly projecting brackets 36, 37 that extends to rear ends behind or rearwardly of the respective vertical portions 12, 13. A bolt 38 that is detachable from the ears or brackets 36, 37 extends between the ears and behind the vertical portions l2, l3 and serves as means for retaining the wheel device on the L-shaped member.

When mounting the wheel devices on the L-shaped members 10, 11, the bails 34, 35 are slid over the horizontal portions 14 or 15 and until the cros piece of the second bail engages the vertical member 13 or 14. The bolt 38 is then inserted and the wheel device is retained on the respective member.

Referring now to FIG. 6, there is provided a handle or cross piece 40 that has opposite ends 41, 42 that are U-shaped in cross section and may be received in the notches 21, 22. The ends 41, 42 have a series of longitudinally spaced openings 43, 44 respectively that receive the bolts at 26. Therefore, as is clearly apparent from viewing FIG. 6, the spacing between the members 10, 11 may be adjusted by inserting the bolts 26 into the desired openings 43, 44 and tightening the bolts in the tapped openings in the brackets 19, 20.

We claim 1. A manual furniture-carrying device comprising: a pair of upright rigid L-shaped members disposed parallel to one another and including coplanar upright portions adapted to be placed against upright sides of furniture, coplanar horizontally disposed portions extending from the lower ends of the upright portions and adapted to engage the undersides of furniture to be carried, and upright bracket portions integral with and projecting from the upright portions intermediate their upper and lower ends and to opposite sides thereof than the horizontal portions, said upright portions having aligned rearwardly opening non-circular recesses therein spaced from the upright portions and at the rear ends of the bracket portions; a horizontal cross member extending between the upright bracket portions and having opposite non-circular ends conforming to the shape of and fitted into the recesses and detachably but rigidly connected to the respective upright bracket portions, said cross member further having a central gripping section spaced from the plane of the upright portions; and said upright and horizontal portions having means providing soft surfaces on the sides thereof facing the furniture.

2. The device as set forth in claim 1. in which the cross member is the only connection between the L- shaped members and the distance between the members may be varied by using different lengths of cross members.

3. The device as set forth in claim 1 in which the cross member is the only means for interconnecting the upright members and the cross member may be connected to the upright members at different locations along the cross member to thereby change the distance between the upright members in accordance with the size of furniture to be carried.

4. The device as set forth in claim 1 in which the upright portion is between 12 and 20 inches high, the central section of the cross section is offset rearwardly from the upright portion between 2 to 5 inches and downwardly from the top of the upright members between 3 to 6 inches.

5. The device as set forth in claim 1 in which the horizontal portions are at an acute angle to the vertical portions of between and 89.

6. The device as set forth in claim 1 in which the horizontal portions are tapered from heels at their juncture with the vertical portions to their tips.

7. A product-carrying device composed of a pair of L-shaped members having upright leg portions having coplanar faces for engaging vertical surfaces and outwardly extending leg portions extending from the lower ends of the vertical leg portions and from one side thereof; a pair of vertical brackets above the midportions of the vertical portions rigid with and extending from the opposite sides of the vertical leg portions to respective ends spaced from the vertical portions; a rigid horizontal handle member having opposite ends detachably but rigidly connected to the respective ends of the brackets and for effecting rigidity of the entire device; and a wheel attachment for each outwardly extending leg portion composed ofa horizontal base lying alongside the under side of the respective leg portion and having a wheel dependingly supported therefrom, bail structure rigid with the base and overlying the leg portion, and a detachable connector means detachably interconnecting the bail structure to the upright portion.

8. The product-carrying device as set forth in claim 7 in which the bail structure includes a first bail member rigid with the base and overlying the outer end of g the leg portion, a second bail rigid with the base and overlying the leg portion adjacent its juncture with the upright leg portion, and a pair of cars rigid with the latter bail and disposed alongside and on opposite sides of the upright leg portion; and the detachable means is a connector element detachably interconnecting the ears behind the respective upright portion.

9. A manual furniture-carrying device comprising: a pair of upright rigid L-shaped members disposed parallel to one another and including coplanar upright portions adapted to be placed against upright sides of furniture and coplanar horizontally disposed portions extending from the lower ends of the upright portions and adapted to engage the undersides of furniture to be carried; a horizontal cross member extending between the upright portion and having opposite ends detachably but rigidly connected to the respective upright portions and having a central gripping section spaced from the plane of the upright portions; said upright and horizontal portions having means providing soft surfaces on the sides thereof facing the furniture; and caster wheel attachment detachably mounted on the lower ends of said L-shaped members, each attachment comprising a 6 wardly projecting upright side portions extending alongside and on opposite sides of the vertical portion and rearwardly thereof, and a detachable element extending between the side portions rearwardly of and closely adjacent the back side of the vertical portion. 

1. A manual furniture-carrying device comprising: a pair of upright rigid L-shaped members disposed parallel to one another and including coplanar upright portions adapted to be placed against upright sides of furniture, coplanar horizontally disposed portions extending from the lower ends of the upright portions and adapted to engage the undersides of furniture to be carried, and upright bracket portions integral with and projecting from the upright portions intermediate their upper and lower ends and to opposite sides thereof than the horizontal portions, said upright portions having aligned rearwardly opening non-circular recesses therein spaced from the upright portions and at the rear ends of the bracket portions; a horizontal cross member extending between the upright bracket portions and having opposite non-circular ends conforming to the shape of and fitted into the recesses and detachably but rigidly connected to the respective upright bracket portions, said cross member further having a central gripping section spaced from the plane of the upright portions; and said upright and horizontal portions having means providing soft surfaces on the sides thereof facing the furniture.
 2. The device as set forth in claim 1 in which the cross member is the only connection between the L-shaped members and the distance between the members may be varied by using different lengths of cross members.
 3. The device as set forth in claim 1 in which the cross member is the only means for interconnecting the upright members and the cross member may be connected to the upright members at different locations along the cross member to thereby change the distance between the upright members in accordance with the size of furniture to be carried.
 4. The device as set forth in claim 1 in which the upright portion is between 12 and 20 inches high, the central section of the cross section is offset rearwardly from the upright portion between 2 to 5 inches and downwardly from the top of the upright members between 3 to 6 inches.
 5. The dEvice as set forth in claim 1 in which the horizontal portions are at an acute angle to the vertical portions of between 80* and 89*.
 6. The device as set forth in claim 1 in which the horizontal portions are tapered from heels at their juncture with the vertical portions to their tips.
 7. A product-carrying device composed of a pair of L-shaped members having upright leg portions having coplanar faces for engaging vertical surfaces and outwardly extending leg portions extending from the lower ends of the vertical leg portions and from one side thereof; a pair of vertical brackets above the midportions of the vertical portions rigid with and extending from the opposite sides of the vertical leg portions to respective ends spaced from the vertical portions; a rigid horizontal handle member having opposite ends detachably but rigidly connected to the respective ends of the brackets and for effecting rigidity of the entire device; and a wheel attachment for each outwardly extending leg portion composed of a horizontal base lying alongside the under side of the respective leg portion and having a wheel dependingly supported therefrom, bail structure rigid with the base and overlying the leg portion, and a detachable connector means detachably interconnecting the bail structure to the upright portion.
 8. The product-carrying device as set forth in claim 7 in which the bail structure includes a first bail member rigid with the base and overlying the outer end of the leg portion, a second bail rigid with the base and overlying the leg portion adjacent its juncture with the upright leg portion, and a pair of ears rigid with the latter bail and disposed alongside and on opposite sides of the upright leg portion; and the detachable means is a connector element detachably interconnecting the ears behind the respective upright portion.
 9. A manual furniture-carrying device comprising: a pair of upright rigid L-shaped members disposed parallel to one another and including coplanar upright portions adapted to be placed against upright sides of furniture and coplanar horizontally disposed portions extending from the lower ends of the upright portions and adapted to engage the undersides of furniture to be carried; a horizontal cross member extending between the upright portion and having opposite ends detachably but rigidly connected to the respective upright portions and having a central gripping section spaced from the plane of the upright portions; said upright and horizontal portions having means providing soft surfaces on the sides thereof facing the furniture; and caster wheel attachment detachably mounted on the lower ends of said L-shaped members, each attachment comprising a base plate underlying a horizontal portion at the tip thereof; a second bail rigid with the plate and overlying the horizontal portion at the juncture of the horizontal and vertical portion, said second bail having a horizontal portion disposed closely adjacent the front surface of the vertical portion, and further having rigid rearwardly projecting upright side portions extending alongside and on opposite sides of the vertical portion and rearwardly thereof, and a detachable element extending between the side portions rearwardly of and closely adjacent the back side of the vertical portion. 